my blueberry bushes that is. I was so excited when they arrived this morning. I ordered 2 Ka-Bluey jumbo grade and 1 Jersey jumbo grade bush from Gurney's. I am very pleased with the stock that I received. They are a very nice size (18-24 inches), have a lot of roots and are starting to bud already. I was able to get all three of them planted. We are supposed to be getting rain and snow this weekend and I really wanted to get them in before it arrives. The rain should help them to get established more quickly. I hope that we don't get snow because I don't know if it will affect them, being newly transplanted. I did apply a heavy mulch around each bush to help keep them warm if it does snow.
I still have an apple tree and 2 different types of potatoes on order. They should be coming by the middle of April. Spring is definitely in the air around here. I have a bunch of tomato, cabbage, pepper and herb seedlings started. I still need to start some broccoli, zucchini, eggplant and winter squash yet.
I need to get busy and finish making my self-watering planters and my fabric planter pots (for growing my potatoes in). I've got about 12 self-watering planters made already and have nearly that many more to make. I'm also planning to make at least 4 fabric planter pots. Soooo much to do and spring planting time is coming on so very quickly.
The Kindness of a Friend
10 hours ago
3 comments:
How exciting!! How do you make self watering planters?
You need a 5 gallon food safe bucket with a lid, a small plastic cup, a couple of 4x4 inch paver blocks, and a piece of landscape fabric or a heavy weight plastic garbage bag.
You cut the bucket lid so that it fits inside of the bucket, sitting on top of the paver blocks. Save the ring from the lid as you will need it later.
Next, you cut a hole in the center of the lid a little smaller than the diameter of the cup (so that the cup fits snuggly into the hole).
Next drill drainage hole in the bottom and sides of the cup. The cup will be sitting in the water reservoir and act as a wick to keep the potting soil moist all of the time. Then you drill a bunch of 1/4" holes into the lid around the large hole to aid in drainage and air circulation around the plant roots.
Place the pavers into the bucket, place the lid with the cup inserted on top of the blocks, then mark the side of the bucket about a 1/4" below where the lid sits. This is where you will drill a 1/2"-1" hole (into the side of the bucket) that will be used for watering and as the overflow.
Fill your planter with a soil-less potting mix. You can place some fertilizer in a circle around the edge of the bucket and mix it.
Take the landscape fabric or plastic bag and place it on top of the potting mix. Use the ring from the lid to keep it in place. This will be your mulch to help retain moisture. Cut an X in the center of the fabric or plastic and transplant your plant.
You don't have to use the fabric or plastic if you are going to plant more than one plant per bucket. Check out the Square Foot Gardening site for how many vegetables can be planted in a square foot of space. Pretty easy to make.
I was going to ask the same question...Spring sure keeps us busy doesn't it?
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